Container

ABSTRACT

A container includes a base, a containing body, a lid, an elastic component and a slider. The base includes bottom board and side wall connected to each other. The bottom board and the side wall form accommodation space. The side wall includes a blocking portion. The containing body is disposed in accommodation space, and has a sliding groove and an opening. The lid is pivoted on the containing body. The lid pivots relative to the containing body to have closed position and open position. The elastic component is disposed on the containing body, and is connected to the lid. The slider is disposed in the sliding groove for sliding relative to the containing body to have first position and second position. The slider has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end includes a block. The second end is pivoted on the lid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 103206404 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Apr. 11, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a container, more particularly to a container with a lid being capable of flipping open automatically.

BACKGROUND

With the development of technology, containers have been improved so that people can use them more conveniently. For example, the container has a lid for preventing the liquid filled inside the container from spilling out. Generally speaking, when the user tries to open the container, one hand of the user holds the container, and the other hand rotates or flips open the lid.

However, people are not always able to open the lid by two hands while they are working. In other words, while a user is working, such as driving a car or making a telephone call, the user needs to stop their work to be able to use two hands to flip open the lid simultaneously, whereby it is inconvenient for the user. Therefore, it is important to provide a container having a lid which the user is able to flip open with only one hand.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a container comprises a base, a containing body, a lid, an elastic component and a slider. The base comprises a bottom board and a side wall that are connected to each other. The bottom board and the side wall form an accommodation space together. The side wall comprises a blocking portion. The containing body is detachably disposed in the accommodation space. The containing body has a sliding groove and an opening. The lid is pivoted on the containing body. The lid pivots relative to the containing body to have a close position and an open position relative to the containing body. The elastic component is disposed on the containing body. The elastic component is connected to the lid. The slider is slidably disposed in the sliding groove for sliding relative to the containing body to have a first position and a second position. The slider has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the slider comprises a block, and the second end of the slider is pivoted on the lid. When the containing body is disposed in the accommodation space of the base, the blocking portion of the side wall presses the block so that the slider is located at the first position, whereby the lid is located at the close position so as to close the opening, and the elastic component stores an elastic potential energy. When the containing body is separated from the base, the elastic component releases the elastic potential energy so that the lid pivots from the close position to the open position so as to expose the opening to the outside and drive the slider to slide from the first position to the second position.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a container for disposing in a base comprises a containing body, a lid, an elastic component and a slider. The base comprises a bottom board and a side wall that are connected to each other. The bottom board and the side wall form an accommodation space together. The side wall comprises a blocking portion. The containing body is detachably disposed in the accommodation space. The containing body has a sliding groove and an opening. The lid is pivoted on the containing body. The lid pivots relative to the containing body to have a close position and an open position relative to the containing body. The elastic component is disposed on the containing body. The elastic component is connected to the lid. The slider is slidably disposed in the sliding groove for sliding relative to the containing body to have a first position and a second position. The slider has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end of the slider comprises a block, and the second end of the slider is pivoted on the lid. When the containing body is disposed in the accommodation space of the base, the blocking portion of the side wall presses the block so that the slider is located at the first position, whereby the lid is located at the close position so as to close the opening, and the elastic component stores an elastic potential energy. When the containing body is separated from the base, the elastic component releases the elastic potential energy so that the lid pivots from the close position to the open position so as to expose the opening to outside and drive the slider to slide from the first position to the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below, along with the accompanying drawings which are for illustration only, thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the container in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a base of a container according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of fastening a first fastening component of the container to a second fastening component of the container according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of removing the first fastening component of the container from the second fastening component of the container according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the container when a lid of the container is located at a closed position according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the container when the lid is located at an open position according to the first embodiment; and

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a container according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4B is an exploded view of the container in FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawings.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1B is an explosive view of the container in FIG. 1A. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of fastening a first fastening component of the container to a second fastening component of the container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of removing the first fastening component of the container from the second fastening component of the container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the container when a lid of the container is located at a closed position according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the container when the lid is located at an open position according to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a container 10 comprises a base 11, a containing body 12, a lid 13, an elastic component 14 and a slider 15.

The base 11 comprises a side wall 110 and a bottom board 111 that are connected to each other. Both of the side wall 110 and the bottom board 111 form an accommodation space S together. The side wall 110 comprises a blocking portion 112. In detail, the side wall 110 is a round wall enclosing the accommodation space S and erected on the bottom board 111, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the side wall 110 can be a polygonal wall. The bottom board 111 of the base 11 has a first air vent 1110, and the side wall 110 has a plurality of second air vents 1100. For example, the blocking portion 112 is a rim of the side wall 110.

In this embodiment, the number of the first air vent 1110 is one, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, for example, the number of the first air vent 1110 is more than one, or the bottom board 111 does not have first air vent 1110. Furthermore, in some other embodiments, for example, the side wall 110 has at least one second air vent 1101, and the detail description will be mentioned thereafter.

The containing body 12 is detachably disposed in the accommodation space S. The containing body 12 has a sliding groove 123 and an opening 120. The containing body 12 has a first side 121 and a second side 122 that are opposite to each other. The second side 122 of the containing body 12 comprises a second fastening component 1220. The sliding groove 123 is located at the first side 121 of the containing body, and has a groove surface 1231. The function of second fastening component 1220 will be described thereafter.

The lid 13 is pivoted on the first side 121 of the containing body 12. The lid has a pivoting end 131 and a fastening end 132 that are opposite to each other. The lid 13 comprises a pivoting component 133 located at the pivoting end 131. The pivoting component 133 is pivoted on the first side 121 of the containing body 12. The fastening end 132 comprises a first fastening component 1320 corresponding to the second fastening component 1220. The first fastening component 1320 is, for example, a fastening slot. The second fastening component 1220 is, for example, a fastening hook corresponding to the fastening slot. The second fastening component 1220 (the fastening hook) is fastened to the first fastening component 1320 (the fastening slot) so as to fix the lid 13 to the containing body 12.

The lid 13 pivots relative to the containing body 12 to have a closed position and an open position. The lid 13 covers the opening 120 of the containing body 12 when located at the closed position (as shown is FIG. 3A). The lid 13 exposes the opening 120 of the containing body 12 to the outside when located at the open position (as shown is FIG. 3B).

The elastic component 14 is disposed on the first side 121 of the containing body 12. The elastic component 14 is connected to the pivoting component 133 of the lid 13. The elastic component 14 is, for example, a torsion spring. The elastic component 14 stores an elastic potential energy when the lid 13 moves from the open position to the closed position. The elastic component 14 releases the elastic potential energy when the lid 13 moves from the closed position to the open position.

The slider 15 is slidably disposed on the sliding groove 123 of the containing body 12. The slider 15 has a first end 151 and a second end 152 that are opposite to each other. The first end 151 comprises a block 1510, and the second end 152 is pivoted on the lid 13. The slider 15 is for sliding relative to the containing body 12 to have a first position and a second position. There is a distance between the block 1510 of the first end 151 and the groove surface 1231 of the sliding groove 12 when the slider 15 is located at the first position (as shown is FIG. 3A). The block 1510 of the first end 151 abuts against the groove surface 1231 of the sliding groove 12 when the slider 15 is located at the second position (as shown is FIG. 3B).

Moreover, the container 10 further comprises a linkage 16. The second end 1520 of the slider 15 is pivoted on the pivoting component 133 of the lid 13 through the linkage 16 so that the lid 13 pivots relative to the containing body 12, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, the container 10 does not comprise the linkage 16, and the second end 152 of the slider 15 is flexible. The second end 152 is reversibly deformed for the lid 13 pivoting relative to the containing body 12.

Furthermore, the container 10 further comprises a bottle 17 disposed in the containing body 12. In this embodiment, the bottle 17 is for being separated from the containing body 12, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In some other embodiments, both of the bottle 17 and the containing body 12 are integrated together.

The following describes the direction and operation for using the container. The containing body 12 is disposed on the base 11 when the user does not need to use the container 10 (as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B). The containing body 12 descends along a direction F1 so that the blocking portion 112 of the side wall 11 presses the block 1510, whereby the slider 15 is slid from the second position towards the first position. The linkage 16 drives the lid 13 to pivot from the open position to the closed position along a direction F2. When the slider 15 is located at the first position, the blocking portion 112 of the side wall 11 is pressed against the block 1510. When the lid 13 is located at the closed position, the lid 13 covers the opening 120, and both of the containing body 12 and the lid 13 compress the elastic component 14 to be reversibly transformed so that the elastic component 14 stores the elastic potential energy.

While the lid 13 is pivoted from the open position to the closed position, the containing body 12 extrudes the air inside the accommodation space S to press the air to be removed from the accommodation space S toward the outside through the first air vent 1110 and/or the second air vents 1100. That is, the air inside the accommodation space S is for buffering a descending velocity of the containing body 12 with respect to the base 11. Furthermore, the direction of the descending velocity extends along the direction F1. In other words, the speed of the air removing from the accommodation space S influences the descending velocity of the containing body 12. Therefore, the speed of the air removing from the accommodation space S can be adjusted by arranging the position of the first air vent 1110 and the second air vent 1100 and varying the number of the first air vent 1110 and the second air vent 1100.

When the user needs to use the container 10 (for example, drinking liquid inside the container 10), the user lifts the containing body 12 up so that the containing body 12 is separated from the base 11 (as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B). The elastic component 14 releases the elastic potential energy so that the lid 13 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position along a direction F3 so as to drive the slider 15 to slide from the first position to the second position. Furthermore, the lid 13 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position so as to expose the opening 120 of the containing body 12 to the outside.

When the user needs to lift the containing body 12 up from the base 11 with the lid 13 located at the closed position, the user can fasten the second fastening component 1220 to the first fastening component 1320 (as shown in FIG. 2A) so that the lid 13 is not able to pivot relative to the containing body 12. Therefore, the lid is still located at the closed position even though the containing body 12 is separated from the base 11.

In other embodiments, the position of the second air vent and the number of the second air vents can be changed. Please refer to FI. 1C. FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a base of a container according to a second embodiment. Since the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

In this embodiment, both the side wall 110 and the bottom board 111 further has a plurality of second air vents 1101. The second air vents 1101 are for increasing the speed of the air removing from the accommodation space S so as to influence the descending velocity of the containing body 12. Therefore, the speed of the air removing from the accommodation space S can be adjusted by arranging the position of the second air vent 1101 and varying the number of the second air vent 1101.

The elastic component can be replaced with other elements. Please refer to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a container according to a third embodiment. FIG. 4B is an exploded view of the container in FIG. 4A. Since the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, only the differences will be described.

In this embodiment, an elastic component 14′ of a container 10′ is, for example, a rubber band. Therefore, the elastic component 14′ has similar functions as the elastic component 14.

According to the disclosure, when the user lifts the containing body up from the base, the lid is able to flip open automatically by releasing the elastic potential energy generated from the aforementioned mechanical relationships. Therefore, it is favorable for the user to flip open the lid with only one hand.

Moreover, the position of the first air vent, the second air vent, and the number of the first air vents, the second air vents can all be arranged so as to adjust the speed of the air removing from the accommodation space S, thereby adjusting the descending velocity of the containing body. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container, comprising: a base comprising a bottom board and a side wall that are connected to each other, the bottom board and the side wall forming an accommodation space together, the side wall comprising a blocking portion; a containing body detachably disposed in the accommodation space, the containing body having a sliding groove and an opening; a lid pivoted on the containing body, the lid pivoting relative to the containing body to have a closed position and an open position relative to the containing body; an elastic component disposed on the containing body, the elastic component is connected to the lid; and a slider slidably disposed in the sliding groove for sliding relative to the containing body to have a first position and a second position, the slider having a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, the first end of the slider comprising a block, the second end of the slider pivoted on the lid; wherein, when the containing body is disposed in the accommodation space of the base, the blocking portion of the side wall presses the block so that the slider is located at the first position, whereby the lid is located at the closed position so as to close the opening, and the elastic component stores an elastic potential energy, wherein, when the containing body is separated from the base, the elastic component releases the elastic potential energy so that the lid is pivoted from the closed position to the open position so as to expose the opening to the outside and drive the slider to slide from the first position to the second position.
 2. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a linkage, wherein the slider is pivoted on the lid through the linkage.
 3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the lid comprises a pivoting component, and the linkage is pivoted on the pivoting component of the lid.
 4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the bottom board of the base has at least one first air vent.
 5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a first fastening component, the containing body comprises a second fastening component, and the first fastening component is fastened to the second fastening component.
 6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the elastic component is a torsion spring or a rubber band.
 7. The container according to claim 6, wherein the first fastening component is a fastening slot, and the second fastening component is a fastening hook corresponding to the fastening slot.
 8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the side wall of the base has at least one second air vent.
 9. The container according to claim 8, further comprising a bottle disposed in the containing body.
 10. A container for disposing on a base, the base comprising a bottom board and a side wall that are connected to each other, the bottom board and the side wall forming an accommodation space together, the side wall comprising a blocking portion, the container comprising: a containing body detachably disposed in the accommodation space, the containing body having a sliding groove and an opening; a lid pivoted on the containing body, the lid pivoting relative to the containing body to have a closed position and an open position relative to the containing body; an elastic component disposed on the containing body, the elastic component connected to the lid; and a slider slidably disposed in the sliding groove, the slider capable of sliding relative to the containing body to have a first position and a second position, the slider having a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other, the first end of the slider comprising a block, the second end of the slider pivoted on the lid; wherein, when the containing body is disposed in the accommodation space of the base, the blocking portion of the side wall presses the block so that the slider is located at the first position, whereby the lid is located at the closed position so as to close the opening, and the elastic component stores an elastic potential energy, when the containing body is separated from the base, the elastic component releases the elastic potential energy so that the lid is pivoted from the closed position to the open position so as to expose the opening to the outside and drive the slider to slide from the first position to the second position.
 11. The container according to claim 10, further comprising a linkage, wherein the slider is pivoted on the lid through the linkage.
 12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the lid comprises a pivoting component, and the linkage is pivoted on the pivoting component of the lid.
 13. The container according to claim 12, wherein the lid comprises a first fastening component, the containing body comprises a second fastening component, and the first fastening component is fastened to the second fastening component.
 14. The container according to claim 13, wherein the elastic component is a torsion spring or a rubber band.
 15. The container according to claim 14, wherein the first fastening component is a fastening slot, and the second fastening component is a fastening hook corresponding to the fastening slot.
 16. The container according to claim 15, further comprising a bottle disposed in the containing body. 